sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida catcher Mike Zunino had his aluminum bat sawed off in
the eighth inning of UF's 6-4 win over Vanderbilt on Friday at the
College World Series

Sports

News and Notes from the College World Series

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 25, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — College baseball’s championship trophy is headed

Sports

Former Cal transfer Martin leaving Florida

By MATT WATTS< | June 25, 2011

This time it’s not a joke. Defensive

Florida beat Vanderbilt 6-4 Friday to advance to its second-ever
College World Series championship series. The Gators will play
either Virginia or South Carolina starting Monday.

Sports

Gators rally to advance to CWS finals

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 24, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Entering Friday, the Gators were in the driver's seat at the College World Series. After six long months and 70 games, their rolling train finally reached its destination.

Preston Tucker and the Gators have dropped Vanderbilt four times already this seaso, including a 3-1 victory just four days ago at the College World Series. The two teams square off Friday at 2 p.m. in a semifinals matchup.

Sports

Gators, 'Dores ready to duke it out again

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 23, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — For the second time in four days a pair of conference titans will clash at the College World Series in a critical semifinals matchup.

Sports

Jenkins transfers to North Alabama

By MATT WATTS< | June 23, 2011

Former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who

Despite his youth, Florida freshman Karsten Whitson (8-0, 2.43
ERA) has flummoxed hitters all season. The powerful right-hander
was a key caveat in Florida 3-1 win over Vanderbilt Tuesday in the
weather-suspended contest at the College World Series.

Sports

Whitson's progression, growth on display Monday night

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 22, 2011

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Florida southpaw Steven Rodriguez shutdown Vanderbilt Monday and
Tuesday in a weather-suspended winner's bracket game at the College
World Series. The Gators downed the Commodores 3-1 as Rodriguez
punched-out a career-high seven in relief.

Sports

Atonement, redemption come at last for Rodriguez

By JESS SIMONTON | June 22, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Baseball relievers are supposed to have short

Florida celebrates after beating Vanderbilt 3-1 in a weather-delayed College World Series contest. The Gators dropped their SEC foes for the fourth time in five tries.

Sports

Stifling pitching, Tucker's blast lead Gators over Commodores at CWS

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 21, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Not wind, not hail, not even a day without touching

Florida's coach Kevin O'Sullivan is best friends with Vanderbilt's manager Tim Corbin. Their relationship dates back to their days together as assistants on Jim Levett's staff at Clemson (1999-2002). Vanderbilt and Florida square off tonight at 7 in a winner's bracket contest at the CWS.

Sports

CWS pre-game notebook: O'Sullivan, Corbin and dueling aces

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 20, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Two old friends and a pair of conference titans will

Gators third baseman Cody Dent has become a key cog during Florida's championship quest. The sophomore has solidified the hot corner with his slick glove work and his renewed offensive approach.

Sports

Dent turning into key contributor for Gators

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 19, 2011

OMAHA, NEB. — Florida vs. Vanderbilt isn't quite Yankees vs. Red

Sports

Heath Evans 7-on-7 Championship recruiting news

June 19, 2011

WEST PALM BEACH — A handful of notable 2012 prospects were on

Bryson Smith, (1) pictured center, reached base in all five plate appearances in Florida's 8-4 win over Texas Saturday at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Smith met with reporters afterwards for the first time since his embarrassing arrest in mid-March.

Sports

After propelling Gators comeback, Smith reflects on difficult road

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 19, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Bryson Smith never lost faith.

No. 2 national seed Florida seed defeated Texas 8-4 in Saturday's College World Series opener in Omaha, Neb. The Gators will now play Vanderbilt on Tuesday.

Sports

Florida drops Texas on opening day of the CWS

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 18, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Since postseason play began, the top-ranked Gators baseball team has shown a unique capability of rising from the dead.

Sports

Maddox and Johnson set to return for Saturday's CWS opener

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 17, 2011

OMAHA — Florida (50-17) will receive an added boost when it faces off against perennial powerhouse Texas (49-17) Saturday at 7 p.m. on the opening day of the 2011 College World Series.

Sports

Florida takes business-like attitude back to Omaha

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 15, 2011

In the opening baseball media session in February — still stinging from a bitterly short trip nearly eight months before — the top-ranked Gators spoke about their motivation to get back to the College World Series.

Sports

What everyone Witnessed

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 15, 2011

Lake LeBegone.

Sports

Bruder closes career with another prestigious award

June 15, 2011

Kelsey Bruder always told freshmen teammates their UF careers only got easier after year one.

Sports

Gators headed back to Omaha after Tucker’s blast

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 13, 2011

The top-ranked Gators were eight outs away from clinching back-to-back College World Series appearances Saturday. Instead, they imploded twice, culminating in Mississippi State’s Nick Vickerson’s stunning walk-off two-run homer.

Sports

No one home: Florida fans absent as baseball team makes history

By MATT WATTS | June 13, 2011

The Gators won an absolutely, down-right riveting game Sunday to advance to the College World Series in back-to-back years for the first time in school history.

Sports

Squandered scoring opportunities doom UF

By JOHN BOOTHE< | June 13, 2011

After the Gators came up achingly short of their first NCAA Outdoor Championship on Saturday, UF jumper Christian Taylor tried to find a lesson in a meet filled with missed chances.